Seed-planter.



No. 6691126. Patented Mar. 5, |90l.

. W. SOBEY.A

A Pycation filed Oct. 19, 1900.! (No Moda!) 3 Sheets--Sheat I.

5%@ amok Patented Mar. 5, |90I. W. SOBEY.

SEED PLANTES.

(Application led Oct. 19, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

No. 669,|2e.

. Patented Mar. 5,- 190|. W. SDBEY.

SEED PLANTER.

Application mea occ. x9, 190.04

3 SheetsLSheet 3.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SOBEY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE J. I. CASE PLOW WORKS, OF SAME PLACE.

SEED-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming pare of Letters Patent No. 669,126, dated Maren 5, 1 901.

Application filed October 19, 1900. Serial No. 33,582. '\1\To model.)

a hopper mounted upon the main frame and having its feed mechanism actuated from the drive-wheel, suitable means being provided whereby the feed mechanism is thrown into and out of action when desired.

The invention has for its main object to provide improved means for throwing the feed mechanism into and out of action, and has for a further object to provide certain minor features of improvement, all of which will be hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings,and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this speciflcation.

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a combined cotton-seed and corn planter ernbodying this invention, parts being broken away for better illustration. Fig. 2 is a plan view, parts being in section, of the main frame and certain of the parts connected therewith, the hopper and seed-feeding mechanism being removed. Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. lisa view in side elevation of the hopper and mechanism beneath the saine, parts being shown in section and the seed-feeding mechanism being shown out of operative position. Fig. 5 is a detail view, in vertical section, on line 5 5 of Fig. l. Fig. 6 isa det-ail View of the togglelink connecting the operating-lever to the bottom of the feed-hopper. Fig. 7 is a View in side elevation, parts being broken away, of the hopper and adjacent parts, modified gearing being interposed between the main feed-shaft and the seed-feeding mechanism.

The main frame A of the machine will be of usual or suitable construction, the frame shown comprising side bars a a', to the front ends of which are bolted the draw-irons B,

having their forward ends connected to the usual hitch b. Upon an axle c, extending between the front ends of the side bars of the main frame, is journaled the usual drivei wheel C, and to this drive-wheel is connected gearing, whereby is driven the main feed or operating shaft D, the inner end of this feedshaft carrying a suitable gear-Wheel d and being journaled in a bracket D. The forward end of the main feed-shaft D extends through a dust-protector or housing 2, that projects rearwardly from the front gear-casing 3, wherein the gear-wheels at the forward end ofthe main feed-shaft are inclosed. The bracket D has an arm d extending outwardly to one of the side bars of the main frame and formed with a slot d2, through which passes the retaining-bolt d3, this bolt-and-slot connection enabling the bracket to be adjustably held at different elevations. Inasmuch as the rear end of the feed-shaft D and the forward end of the counter-shaft e project beyond their respective bearings, it is manifest that the gear-wheel d and pinion e may be readily removed when it is desired to substitute gear Wheels and pinions of other sizes in order to vary the speed of the feeding mechanism within the hopper. The purpose in adjustably sustaining the rear end of the main feed-shaft D is not only to enable gears of dierent diameters to be thus employed on the free ends of the main feed-shaft D and the counter-shaft e', butA also to permit the shaft to be raised or lowered, so as to compensate for any wear of parts or any slight' variations or inaccuracies in construction. The hopper W may be of the usual or suitable construction, and the interior of the hopper will be provided with suitable agitator or feed mechanism whereby the seed will be delivered therefrom. Upon the counter-shaft e' is mounted a bevel-pinion e2, that will engage with a corresponding bevel-wheel located within the hopper and serving to operate the feed mechanism therein. From the bottom of the hopper W, at the sides thereof, depend the arms w, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected by bolts 6 to the upwardly-extending lugs fof the transverse support F. Preferably the support F is a casting such as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings,

IOO

this casting being connected to the main frame by a through-bolt 7, having threaded ends that are engaged by retaining-nuts bearing upon the side bars of the main frame. One end of the support F is shown as provided with a plate f', preferably formed in one piece therewith and having lugs]c2 and f3, between which the adjacent side bar a of the main frame will extend, and the depending rear end of the plate f is formed with a hole to receive a bolt 9, to which is pivoted the short arm of a leverG, whereby the seed-feeding mechanism will be thrown into and out of operation in a manner to be presently described.

To the lever G is pivotally united, as at g, the lower end of a thrust-bolt or toggle-link G', the upper end of which is slotted, as atg, to receive a pin or bolt 10, that passes also through4 the dependingl ears l2 on the bottom of the hopper W, and thus pivotally unites the upper end of the link or bolt G' to the bottom of the hopper. Upon the link or bolt G is mounted a coil-spring' H, the lower end of which bears upon a shouider or offset g3 of the link or bolt, while itsupper end bears against a washer 13, that encircles the upper portion of the link or bolt G'. rl`he purpose of the lever G is to enable the seed-feeding mechanism to be readily thrown into and out of operation, and it will be understood that when the lever G is moved from the position seen in Fig. et to the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings the hopper W will be moved to the position there seen, so that the gearpinion e beneath the front of the hopper will engage with the gear-wheel d on the rea-r end of the main feed-shaft D. So, also, it is apparent that if the lever G be turned rearwardly and downwardly about its pivot-point 0, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the thrust-bolt or link G will draw downwardly the rear end of the hopper WV, causing the hopper to rock about the pivot-point 6, and

f thereby lift the forward end of the counter- 'against a stop 15, that is preferably cast upon the inner face of the platef of the support F. The downward and rearward movement of the lever G may be limited either by the contact of the lever with a stay-bolt 20, that extends between the side bars of the main frame, or by the Contact of the bottom of the hopper with the upper end of the seed-spout M. If the points of the teeth of the pinion e and gear-wheel d should contact or ride when the operating-lever G is turned forwardly to bring the seed mechanism into action, the slot of the thrust-bolt or link G will still allow the complete forward movement of the lever G until the pivot-point g of the leveris brought across the dead-center, as shown in Fig. l, thereby insuring the retention of the scenes lever in locked position and insuring also the accurate intermeshing of the pinion e and gear-wheel d as soon as the points of their teeth cease to ride. By employing the togglelever mechanism above described not only is the shifting of the seed-feeding mechanism into and out of action readily accomplished, but the operating-lever is held in locked or unlocked position,accordingas the pivot-point g is in front or at the rear of the dead-center or line of connection between the pivot-point of the upper end of the thrust-bolt or link G and the pivot-point of the lower end of the levez` G.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be observed that the center of the support F is formed with a recess or socket f4, into which sits the upper end of the shankp of the furrow-shovel P, the shankp being held in position by the bolt 7, that passes through the support F. In this way a very effective means is provided for securing the upper end of the furrowshovel shank.

While I have described what I regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is manifestthat the details may be Varied by the skilled mechanic without departure from the invention. Thus,4 for example, in

Fig. 7 of thedrawings is shown a modification in which the counter-shaft at the bottom of the hopper is dispensed with and in which a beveled gear-wheel d4 on the rear end of the main feed-shaft D engages directly with a corresponding beveled gear-wheel in the bottom of the hopper. In this construction, as in that hereinbefore described, however, the shifting of the operating-lever G serves to throw the seed-feeding mechanism out of action by its disengagement with the beveled gear-wheel d4.

So far I am aware this invention presents the first instance of the employment of a pivoted lever for throwing the seed-feeding mechanism into and out of operation, a lostmotion connection and spring being employed whereby an excess movement of the lever is permitted and whereby the engagement of the seed-feeding mechanism with the driving-gear is insured. Manifestly, therefore, the details of the lever mechanism may be varied without departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secu re by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a seed-planter, the combination with a main frame having a drive-wheel, seed-feeding mechanism and suitable gearing between said drive-wheel'and said feeding mechanism, of a pivoted lever for throwing said feed mechanism into and out of operation, and a lostmotion connection and spring for said lever, whereby an excess movement of the lever is permitted to insure the engagement of the feed mechanism with the gearing connected to the drive-wheel.

2. In a seed-planter, the combination with IOO IIO

the main frame, its drive-wheel, a tilting seedhopper, and seed feeding mechanism connected to said hopper, of an operating-lever pivoted to the main frame, a pivoted link interposed between said lever and the seed-hopper, said link having a loose connection with one of said parts, and a spring interposed between said lever and said hopper.

3. In a seed-planter, the combination with the main frame, its drive-wheel, the tilting seed-hopper, a seed-feeding mechanism connected t0 said hopper, of a pivoted operatinglever for throwing the feed mechanism into and out of action, a slotted link interposed bet'ween said lever and the seed-hopper and pivotally connecting said parts, and a compression-spring interposed between said hopper and said lever.

4. In a seed-planter, the combination with a main frame having a drive-shaft, seed-feeding` devices and suitable gearing between said drive-shaft and said feeding devices, of toggle mechanism interposed between said frame and said feeding devices for throwing the latter into and out of operation, and a stop for engaging said toggle mechanism, the latter arranged to be moved slightly past its deadcenter into engagement with said stop to lock in operative position the gearing between said drive-shaft and said feeding devices.

5. In a seed-planter, the combination with a main frame having a drive-shaft, seed-feeding devices and suitable gearing between said drive-shaft and said lfeeding devices, of toggle mechanism interposed between said frame and said feeding devices and movable on either side of its dead-center for throwing the latter into and out of operation, and a spring acting to hold said toggle mechanism on either side of its dead-center.

6. In a seed-planter, the combination with the main frame having a driving-shaft, of seed-feeding devices mounted upon a part pivotally connected to said frame, said feeding devices and said drive-shaft provided with gears arranged to intermesh, a-hand- CHE lever pivoted at its end to said frame and a link pivoted to said lever intermediate its ends and to said parts, whereby the feeding devices are thrown intoand out of operation,

7. In a seed-planter, the combination with a main frame having a drive-wheel, seed-feeding mechanism and suitable gearing between said drive-wheel and said feeding mechanism, of toggle-le ver mechanism interposed between said main frame and the movable part of the feeding mechanism, and an interposed spring for moving said toggle-leverl mechanism toward its locked position.

In a seed-planter, the combination with the main frame, its drive-wheel, a tilting feedhopper and seed-feeding mechanism connected with said hopper, of toggle-lever mechanism interposed between the main frame and said feeding mechanism and whereby the hopper and the parts carried thereby may be tilted, said toggle-lever mechanism having its dead-center arranged between the extremes of movement necessary to hold the feed mechanism in and lout of operation, and a spring acting upon said toggle-lever mechanism.

9. In a seed-planter, the combination with the main frame, and its drive-wheel and with a tilting hopper having feed mechanism and a gear connected therewith, of a drive-shaft having a vertically-adjustable free rear end provided with a gear-wheel beneath the gearwheel of the hopper.

10. In a seed-planter, the combination with the main frame, its drive-wheel and a tilting hopper, of a main feed-shaft having a free rear end provided with a gear-wheel, a tilting counter-shaft connected to the bottom of the hopper and having a free front end provided with a gear-wheel arranged above the gear-wheel at the rear end of the main feedshaft, whereby the interchanging of the gearwheels may be readily effected.

WILLIAM SOBEY.

Witnesses:

HALSTEN JOSEPH THoRKELsoN,

FRANCIS LovELL ALLEN. 

